Grieving and Living

JL;DR SUMMARY "The High Holy Days are a reminder of the preciousness and fragility of life. They begin with Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur, prompting us to reflect on our mortality. Sometimes, tragic events in our community make us even more aware of life's vulnerability. The death of a child is especially devastating and upends the natural order of things. In times of grief, we can turn to ancient Jewish stories for guidance. One story teaches us to mourn the devastation but not to live in perpetual deprivation. We can find joy in the midst of suffering. Another story reminds us that even in moments of great joy, we should not forget the heartache and suffering that exist in the world. Both stories invite us to hold both grief and joy, acknowledging that every moment is filled with pain and possibility." A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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